Load carriage with operator{3 s platform

ABSTRACT

A load-lifting vehicle has a vertically moving load carriage on which is mounted an operator&#39;&#39;s platform. When the operator&#39;&#39;s platform is fully lowered, the load carriage may be in an elevated position from which it may move upwardly to carry the operator&#39;&#39;s platform therewith, or may move downwardly freely of the operator&#39;&#39;s platform to a fully lowered position.

White States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,202,242 8/1965 D01 [72] lnventor KennethA.Richins 3,263,777 8/1966Robichon 3,393,768 7/1968 Miller...........................

Salt Lake City, Utah [2]] Appl. No. 19,851

[22] Filed Mar. 16,1970

[45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [73] Assignee Eaton Yale 8: Towne Inc.

Cleveland, Ohio Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attomey-Teagno &Toddy I54] LOAD CARRIAGE WITH OPERATORS --CT: A load-lifting vehicle hasa vertically moving arriage on which is mounted an operators platform.When the operator's platform is fully lowered. the load carriage may bein an elevated position from which it may move upwardly to carry theoperator's platform therewith. or ma move downwardly freely of theoperator's platform to a fully lowered position.

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LOAD CARRIAGE WITH OPERATORS PLATFORM FIELD OF INVENTION This inventionrelates to a load handling and stacking vehicle of the type adapted totransport and stack a load in an industrial plant or warehouse. Moreparticularly it relates to a vehicle in which the load is elevated bymovement of a load carriage on a pair of vertical uprights constitutingwhat the art terms a mast.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION AND PRIOR ART Load handling and stackingvehicles of the type to which this invention relates, utilize a platformon which an operator is stationed, the platform in some cases movingbodily with the load carriage and the load. In other cases, theoperator's platform is fixed relatively to the main frame or mast onwhich the carriage moves, so that the load is actually lifted andlowered relatively to the operatotors platform. It is obvious that ifthe platform on which the operator is positioned, moves with the load,it becomes rather simple for the operator to control the manipulation ofthe load. On the other hand, the load carriage becomes naturally morecumbersome and complicated, and its movement may be restricted. Thuswhere the operators platform moves with the load carriage it isimpossible to elevate the carriage as closely to the ceiling of thewarehouse as might otherwise be possible because the head room requiredby the operators platform is considerable.

Where the load moves relatively to the operators platform, the loadcarriage is naturally less complex, and the head room required is at aminimum. However, the operator may be so far below or above the load,that he is not able to position or manipulate the load as efficiently aswhen he is moving with the load. The combination disclosed in thisapplication makes possible the movement of the operators platform withthe load carriage and the load, while at the same time, through controlof the load platform, reduces to a minimum the loss of head room thatnonnally follows from the movement of the operator with the loadcarriage.

OUTLINE OF INVENTION A feature of the invention herein disclosed,resides in the mounting of the operators platfonn for movementrelatively to the load carriage, so that upon lifting of the loadcarriage, the operators platform is lowered relatively to the loadcarriage to decrease the head room required. As a particular feature ofthe invention, the normal relation of the load carriage and theoperator's platform is restored during lowering movement of thecarriage, so as to bring the operators platform into a relatively raisedor normal relation with respect to the load carriage.

As a particular feature of the invention, the operators platform ismerely mounted for vertical movement through gravity relatively to theload carriage, and by providing simple abutment means, the raising ofthe elevating platfonn will, through the abutment means, raise theoperators platfonn afier a certain limited amount of relative movementor lost motion between the load carriage and operators platform occurs.What is provided, in effect, is a lost motion connection. Naturally, itis inherent in this lost motion connection that when the load carriageis lowered, it first causes the operator's platform to move into itsfully lowered position, after which the load carriage and the load aremoved downwardly relatively to the operators platform to the lowermostposition of the load carriage.

As a detailed feature of the invention, means such as hydraulic rams maybe applied between the load carriage and the operators platform, so thatin various vertical positions of the load carriage, the operatorsplatform may be adjusted relatively thereto. Actually, the rams may alsobe utilized for determining the relative positions of the load carriageand the operators platform as the carriage moves. Thus, with the pistonand the cylinder of each hydraulic ram locked as by a valve preventingflow of fluid in the cylinder, the carriage and the operator's platformmust naturally move together. If, at any point, the flow of fluidbetween the piston and the cylinder of each hydraulic ram is permitted,then, obviously, the load carriage may move relatively to the operator'splatform to the degree allowed by the lengths of the ram cylinders.

As a more particular feature of the invention, it is even possible toraise the operators platform by the carriage through the intermediary ofpower means present between the platform and the carriage.

Further features of the invention reside in controls for the rams andoperating means, as will appear upon a reading of the specification thatfollows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical view of the inventionshowing the operators platform and the load carriage in a loweredposition, and also in an upper or elevated position with the operator'splatform lowered relatively to the load carriage.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged showing of part of FIG. 1 with details addedthereto.

FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section and elevation along line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the load carr'iageelevated to a position to raise the operator's platform slightly fromits fully lowered position of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, thevehicle in which the invention is embodied is of that type illustratedin an earlier application owned by the assignee of this application,Ser. No. 886,884, filed Dec. 22, 1969. This vehicle, designatedgenerally by the numeral 10, as of a type that-is adapted to be elevatedfrom the floor of a warehouse by a series of air cushion elements orpads 11 that receive measured amounts of air from fans 12 actuated bymotors 13. Generally there will be four of the air cushion elements 11,two near each end of the vehicle. The steering and traction of thevehicle is contributed by a powered wheel 14, which is adapted to berotated so as to contribute both steering and traction as is set forthin the said earlier application. The motors l3 and additional motors forthe driving and traction wheel and the other mechanisms required in thisinvention all receive their power through a trolley type of contactdevice T as is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. It will, of course, beappreciated that the structure of this patent application may beutilized in many different types of vehicle.

The load carriage of the vehicle is designated generally by referencenumeral 15, and is equipped with a horizontally sliding load platform16, as probably best illustrated in FIG. 2, on which a load may bedeposited as shown in the upper portion of FIG. 1. Through a series ofupper and lower rollers 17, load carriage 15 may be mounted for verticalmovement on a mast assembly 18 formed by a pair of vertically extendinguprights 19 shown in section in FIG. 3. It will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that the particular form of the load carriage 15, theload platform 16, and the mounting of the carriage on the uprights '19of the mast assembly 18 are generally conventional.

For moving the load carriage 15 on the vertical uprights 19, anyconventional means may be utilized. For the particular purposes of thisinvention a sprocket chain 20 is reaved over an upper sprocket 21 and alower sprocket 22. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, one end of the chain20 is secured at 23 to the bottom of load carriage 15, the other end ofthe chain being secured at 24 to another portion of the load carriage15. It is obvious that movement of the chain about the upper and lowersprockets 21 and 22 will bring about the vertical movement of the loadcarriage 15 on the uprights 19 of the mast 18. To bring about thismovement, the sprocket 22 is rotated by a second sprocket 25 that, inturn, is rotated by chain 26 as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The chain 26is actuated through intermediate sprockets and chains by a motor drivensprocket 27 driven by an electric motor 28. Obviously, by controllingthe operation of the electric motor 28, the driving movement of thechain 20 is controlled, so as to lift and lower the load carriage 15 asmay be required.

The operators platform of the vehicle is designated generally byreference numeral 30, and it may comprise an actual platform 31 on whichthe operator stands, in order to manipulate a pair of controls 32 and33,,together with such additional controls as may be required. Theoperator standing on the platform 31 will be shielded by a grating suchas designated by reference numeral 34 in FIG. 2, and also by an uppercanopy 29 as is common in the art. It is obvious that the distancebetween the canopy 29 and the platform portion 31 of the operatorsplatform 30, determines the head room that is required by the vehicle toprotect the operator. Thus, it is obvious that the operators platformcannot be raised beyond a position where the canopy 29 is brought upagainst the ceiling of a warehouse in which the vehicle operates. Werethe operators platform 30 to be integral with the load carriage 15, thecanopy 29 would determine the uppermost position of the load to belifted by the load carriage 15.

In accordance with the features of the invention earlier outlined, theload carriage 15, as is probably best seen in FIGS. 2-5 inclusive, isformed with vertical uprights 35 having channels 36 in which are mountedfor movement, laterally spaced rollers 37 suitably mounted on theoperators platform 30. Through the rollers 37, the operators platform 30may move vertically relatively to the load carriage 15 as determined bythe lengths of the channels 36 of the uprights 35.

In FIG. 4, the operators platform 30 is in its fully elevated positionrelatively to the carriage 15, and in this position of the parts, theoperators platform 30 and load carriage 15 are also in their fullylowered position relatively to the main frame of the vehicle 10. As isprobably best seen in FIG. 4, the operators platform 30 is equipped witha series of bottom stops 40 that are in contact with cooperating stops41 fixed to the main frame of the vehicle 10. Therefore, it may bestated that in its lowermost position relatively to the vehicle theoperators platform 30 will be stopped by the main frame of the vehicleagainst further downward motion.

As probably best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the operators platform 30 isequipped with a pair of opposed lugs or abutments 45; The load carriageis equipped with similar lugs or abutments 46. When the load cam'age 15is in its fully lowered position, and the operator's platform 30 also inits fully lowered position of FIGS. 2 and 4, the abutments are separateda vertical distance designated by the letter A in FIG. 4. If, in thisposition of the parts, the motor 28 is energized so as to move the chainto lift the load carriage 15 from its position of FIG. 4, it is obviousthat the operators platform 30 will at first remain in its position ofFIG. 4, resting by gravity on the lugs 41 through coaction with the lugs40 fixed to the operators platform. As the elevating load carriage 15moves upwardly, the abutrnents 46 will strike the abutments 45 as seenin FIG. 5, so that further upward movement of the load carriage willraise the operators platform upwardly therewith, bringing the stop lugs40 away from the stop lugs 41 as also seen in FIG. 5.

Naturally, further upward movement of the carriage 15 will raise theload to the position illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 1. At the sametime, through the coaction of the abutments 45, 46 as illustrated alsoin the upper part of FIG. 1, the operators platform 30 will be raised.However, the platform portion 31 on which the operator stands, will belowered considerably relatively to the load carriage from the positionillustrated in FIG. 2 or in solid lines of FIG. 1. As a matter of fact,the distance the operator's platform will be lowered relatively to theload carriage 15 will be the distance set forth at A in FIG. 4.Therefore, the head room required by the vehicle will be reduced by thedistance represented by letter A. Thus,

though the head room required is reduced considerably, the operatornevertheless moves substantially with the load and the load carriage, soas always to be in a position to manipulate the load and position itefl'ectively relatively to racks, bins or the like. It will beappreciated also, that controls 32 and 33 will always be available tothe operator standing on the platform 31 of the operator's platform asbest shown in FIG. 1 in phantom, in all the extreme positions of theoperators platform 30 relative to the load carriage 15.

It is, of course, obvious that upon lowering of the load carn'age l5 andthe operators platform 30, the operator's platform will first move intoa position where its stop abutrnents 40 will contact the bottom stops 41of the main frame of the vehicle, this being just after the loadcarriage and operator's platform move downwardly slightly from theposition of FIG. 5. Thereafter, the load carriage 15 will naturally moverelatively to the operator's platfonn 30 back to its fully loweredposition of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

In order that it may be possible to adjust the position of the operatorsplatform 30 relatively to the load carriage 15 in certain intermediatepositions of the carriage, should such adj ustment be necessary, theinvention contemplates the use of a pair of hydraulic rams, eachdesignated by reference numeral 60 in the several figures and asprobably best illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. Each ram 60 comprises acylinder 61 fixed at its lower end at 59 to the load carriage 15. Thepiston of each ram 60 is designated by reference numeral 62, and isfixed at its upper end at 63 to a plate 64 integral with the operatorsplatform 30. An electrically operated valve is designated by referencenumeral 65. This valve, through suitable passages 66, 67 directed toeach of the cylinders 61, is adapted to control the movement of thepiston 62 of each ram 60 in a standard manner.

The valve 65 may be controlled by a hand operated control lever 68 fordirecting fluid through the valve 65 from a suitable source of fluidpressure, as is also quite standard in the art. Obviously, by moving thepiston 62 inwardly of the ram cylinder 61, the operators platform may bemoved relatively to the load carriage within the limits possible throughthe location of the abutment lugs 45 and 46 and the length of thecylinder 61. Thus, let us imagine that the elevating load carriage 15 isin the position illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1, and that the operatorsplatform 30 is also positioned as there shown. It is possible, in thisposition of the parts, to bring about an upward movement of theoperator's platform 30 relatively to the load carriage 15, since it isobvious that the abutment lugs 45 can be lifted upwardly relatively tothe lower abutment lugs 46 fixed to the load carriage 15 by operation ofthe rams 60.

AS was indicated earlier, a feature of the invention can be theelimination completely of the abutment lugs 45 and 46, with reliance forcontrol of the vertical position operators platform 30 relative to theload carriage 15 solely through the two rams 60. Thus, if the two rams60 are in the condition shown in FIG. 4, with no fluid flowing throughthe passages from a pressure source to the cylinders 61, and with thevalve 65 in a neutral position, the load carriage 15 can move freelyupwardly relatively to the operators platform 30, with the two pistons62 then moving into the cylinders 61 under the effect of gravity. Thiswill bring about a full movement of the pistons 62 into the ramcylinders 61 as well illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5. Thereafter, thetwo ram cylinders 61 will simply impart movement through the pistons 62to the operators platform 30, and there will be a lifting of theoperators platform 30 through the rams 60 in the same manner as occurswhen the lost motion abutment lugs 46, 45 come into contact as shown inFIG. 5. In other words, the two rams 60 may contribute the same lostmotion connection as do the lugs 46, 45.

Obviously, when the load carriage is moved downwardly from its positionof FIG. 5, the operators platform will first be deposited in contactwith the stops 41 of the main frame of the vehicle. Thereafter, sincethere is free flow of fluid through the ram cylinders 61, the cylinderswill move down freely of the pistons 62 and back to the position of FIG.4, Naturally, in all positions of the operators platform in which thepistons 62 are inwardly of the cylinders 61 of each ram 60, there can bean adjustment of the operator's platform relatively to the loadcarriage.

In order to protect the operator, a suitable limit switch 70 isutilized. This limit switch controls the operation of the lifting motor28 and stops the operation of this motor and the consequent movement ofthe load carriage immediately upon the canopy 29 reaching its uppermostposition. It also controls operation of the valve 65 so that theoperator's platform cannot be raised relatively to the load carriage ina particular position and injure the operator.

It is thought that those skilled in the art will now fully appreciatethe operation of the invention and the contribution to the art.

I now claim:

1. In a vehicle of the class described, a main frame including avertical mast,

an elevating load carriage,

means mounting said load carriage for vertical movement along said mast,

means for moving said carriage vertically on said mounting meansrelatively to said main frame,

an operators platform,

means mounting said platform for vertical movement on said carriage andalso for movement with said carriage,

a lost motion connection between said platform and carriage whereby saidcarriage may move freely upwardly of said platform in a verticaldirection for a predetermined distance and then moves said platfonnvertically upwardly therewith,

said lost motion connection including a hydraulic cylinder and pistonlocated between said carriage and platform for permitting movement ofsaid carriage relatively to said platform to move said piston in opposeddirections into and out of said cylinder when the hydraulic fluid isallowed to flow freely into and from said piston and cylinder, and

control means for inhibiting said flow of fluid whereupon said carriageand platform may be locked for integral movement.

2. In the combination of claim 1, the feature that said control meansalso directs fluid under pressure into said cylinder whereby to movesaid platform relatively to said carriage.

3. In a vehicle of the class described, a main frame including avertical mast,

an elevating load carriage,

means mounting said load carriage for vertical movement along said mast,

means for moving said carriage vertically on said mounting meansrelatively to said main frame,

an operator's platform,

means mounting said platform for vertical movement on said carriage andalso for movement with said carriage,

a lost motion connection between said platform and carriage whereby saidcarriage may move freely upwardly of said platform in a verticaldirection for a predetermined distance and then moves said platformvertically upwardly therewith, and

a hydraulic ram between said carriage and platform for controlling theposition of said platfonn relatively to said carriage independently ofsaid lost motion means of connection.

4. In a vehicle of the class described, a main frame including avertical mast,

an elevating load carriage,

means mounting said load carriage for vertical movement along said mast,

means for moving said carriage vertically on said mounting meansrelatively to said main frame,

an operators platform,

means mounting said platform for vertical movement on said carriage andalso for movement with said carn'a e, a lost motion connection betweensaid platform an carriage whereby said carriage may move freely upwardlyof said platform in a vertical direction for a predetermined distanceand then moves said platform vertically upwardly therewith,

said lost motion connection comprising abutment means on said carriageadapted to engage abutment means on said platform during upward movementof said carriage, said abutment means on said carriage dropping fromcontact with the abutment means on said platform to permit said carriageto move downwardly relatively to said platform when said platformreaches a predetermined position with respect to said main frame duringdownward travel of the carriage and platform, and

a hydraulic ram between said carriage and platform for controlling theposition of said platform relatively to said carriage independently ofsaid abutment means.

5. In a vehicle of the class described, a main frame including avertical mast,

an elevating load carriage,

means mounting said load carriage for vertical movement along said mast,

means for moving said carriage vertically on said mounting meansrelatively to said main frame,

an operator's platform,

means mounting said platform for vertical movement on said carriage andalso for movement with said carriage,

a lost motion connection between said platform and carriage whereby saidcarriage may move freely upwardly of said platform in a verticaldirection for a predetermined distance and then moves said platformvertically upwardly therewith,

said lost motion connection comprising abutment means on said carriageadapted to engage abutment means on said platform during upward movementof said carriage, said abutment means on said carriage dropping fromcontact with the abutment means on said platform to permit said carriageto move downwardly relatively to said platform when said platformreaches a predetermined position with respect to said main frame duringdownward travel of the carriage and platform, said abutment means beingeffective to lift said platform with said carriage after engaging saidabutment means on the platform, and

a hydraulic ram between said carriage and platform for controlling theposition of said platform relatively to said carriage independently ofsaid abutment means.

6. In a vehicle of the class described, a main frame including avertical mast,

an elevating load carriage,

means mounting said load carriage for vertical movement along said mast,

means for moving said carriage vertically on said mounting meansrelatively to said main frame,

an operators platform,

means mounting said platform for vertical movement on said carriage andalso for movement with said carriage,

a lost motion connection between said platform and carriage whereby saidcarriage may move freely upwardly of said platform in a verticaldirection for a predetermined distance and then moves said platformvertically upwardly therewith, and

means for controlling the position of said platform relatively to saidcarriage independently of said lost motion means of connection.

* i t it

1. In a vehicle of the class described, a main frame including a vertical mast, an elevating load carriage, means mounting said load carriage for vertical movement along said mast, means for moving said carriage vertically on said mounting means relatively to said main frame, an operator''s platform, means mounting said platform for vertical movement on said carriage and also for movement with said carriage, a lost motion connection between said platform and carriage whereby said carriage may move freely upwardly of said platform in a vertical direction for a predetermined distance and then moves said platform vertically upwardly therewith, said lost motion connection including a hydraulic cylinder and piston located between said carriage and platform for permitting movement of said carriage relatively to said platform to move said piston in opposed directions into and out of said cylinder when the hydraulic fluid is allowed to flow freely into and from said piston and cylinder, and control means for inhibiting said flow of fluid whereupon said carriage and platform may be locked for integral movement.
 2. In the combination of claim 1, the feature that said control means also directs fluid under pressure into said cylinder whereby to move said platform relatively to said carriage.
 3. In a vehicle of the class described, a main frame including a vertical mast, an elevatinG load carriage, means mounting said load carriage for vertical movement along said mast, means for moving said carriage vertically on said mounting means relatively to said main frame, an operator''s platform, means mounting said platform for vertical movement on said carriage and also for movement with said carriage, a lost motion connection between said platform and carriage whereby said carriage may move freely upwardly of said platform in a vertical direction for a predetermined distance and then moves said platform vertically upwardly therewith, and a hydraulic ram between said carriage and platform for controlling the position of said platform relatively to said carriage independently of said lost motion means of connection.
 4. In a vehicle of the class described, a main frame including a vertical mast, an elevating load carriage, means mounting said load carriage for vertical movement along said mast, means for moving said carriage vertically on said mounting means relatively to said main frame, an operator''s platform, means mounting said platform for vertical movement on said carriage and also for movement with said carriage, a lost motion connection between said platform and carriage whereby said carriage may move freely upwardly of said platform in a vertical direction for a predetermined distance and then moves said platform vertically upwardly therewith, said lost motion connection comprising abutment means on said carriage adapted to engage abutment means on said platform during upward movement of said carriage, said abutment means on said carriage dropping from contact with the abutment means on said platform to permit said carriage to move downwardly relatively to said platform when said platform reaches a predetermined position with respect to said main frame during downward travel of the carriage and platform, and a hydraulic ram between said carriage and platform for controlling the position of said platform relatively to said carriage independently of said abutment means.
 5. In a vehicle of the class described, a main frame including a vertical mast, an elevating load carriage, means mounting said load carriage for vertical movement along said mast, means for moving said carriage vertically on said mounting means relatively to said main frame, an operator''s platform, means mounting said platform for vertical movement on said carriage and also for movement with said carriage, a lost motion connection between said platform and carriage whereby said carriage may move freely upwardly of said platform in a vertical direction for a predetermined distance and then moves said platform vertically upwardly therewith, said lost motion connection comprising abutment means on said carriage adapted to engage abutment means on said platform during upward movement of said carriage, said abutment means on said carriage dropping from contact with the abutment means on said platform to permit said carriage to move downwardly relatively to said platform when said platform reaches a predetermined position with respect to said main frame during downward travel of the carriage and platform, said abutment means being effective to lift said platform with said carriage after engaging said abutment means on the platform, and a hydraulic ram between said carriage and platform for controlling the position of said platform relatively to said carriage independently of said abutment means.
 6. In a vehicle of the class described, a main frame including a vertical mast, an elevating load carriage, means mounting said load carriage for vertical movement along said mast, means for moving said carriage vertically on said mounting means relatively to said main frame, an operator''s platform, means mounting said platform for vertical movement on said carriage and also for movement with said carriage, a lost motion connection between said plaTform and carriage whereby said carriage may move freely upwardly of said platform in a vertical direction for a predetermined distance and then moves said platform vertically upwardly therewith, and means for controlling the position of said platform relatively to said carriage independently of said lost motion means of connection. 